we need new legislation to control big charities after pensioner commits suicide partly over hounding

[milisdrivingmecrazy]

Antoine read the story about the pensioner jumping off Clifton bridge partly due to the hounding from charities?

Apparently she had 28 direct debits each month. What really pisses me off is you hard giving 5 a month, then they send disturbing literature to get you to increase it to 10 and it just keeps going on.

Chuggers are just as bad as I hear they cost 180 for each person that does sign up! With so many charities having bosses that earn more than the mp they are not these small struggling places.

Check out. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2378962-AIBU-to-hope-this-sad-story-gives-charities-that-emply-cold-callers-pause-for-thought

Ah thanks rach. Missed that

One death is one death too many. Of course, this same principle also needs to apply to other authorities whose policies have driven people to their deaths.

Dont worry and i do agree. Its an area thats gone unchecked for some time.

I haven't seen anything to suggest it was suicide - can anyone clarify?

Maid sadly it seems she jumped from the bridge. Rip olive

MaidofStars, didn't she jump off a bridge? Or is that a different story. I must go and have a look, if it was the jumping off a bridge one it would be suicide unless someone threw her off.

Yes Clifton Suspension bridge, well known suicide spot.

I had a standing order to a big charity and they kept phoning to ask me to increase donation. I did this a couple of times but the third time I said I would increase it but if they ever phoned again I would cancel the standing order. All was well for a few months and then they phoned again and I informed them I was cancelling the donation immediately and I did. Idiots.

It's the Sucker Revenue Method. I gather that the CSA used it, too. Figure out who's willing to pay and then keep ratcheting up the payments. I think it was invented by the mafia. But, I could be wrong about that.

i just ran the London marathon.(ballot place) friends signed up to charities to do it so were in a contract to raise 2,000 plus. it was stressful.very. I believe those who fail to raise it all have the rest of the year to find it....or what? I'm not sure,but its bloody stressful for them.

26point. If they dont raise the money they have to make shortfall up.

You'd think they would be satisfied with almost the full amount. They never are tho

I saw an interview about this in the news.

There is, apparently, a code of conduct which means that this sort of hounding should not happen.

It needs strengthening. There should be a limit to the number of times they can do an 'are you sure?' call after you cancel a regular donation, and on the number of times they can call/write to one number/address per year.

Also, if you tell a caller you don't want to be called again, the call centre should be able to action that. At the moment it seems you may have to ring a separate number, and that's the wrong way round.

Also,met here needs to be some teeth behind the code of conduct.

(I won't set up DDs to charities now, not donate by text. Thank heavens cheques haven't totally vanished).

The Institute of Fundraising has a Code of Practice that addresses this. All a supporter has to do is to ask to be removed from a list and under the Code that will be adhered to. The IoF has issued a response to the death of this lady.

Regarding the London Marathon, it costs a charity ( or the last one I worked for ) in excess of £1200 to enter an individual in the race, which is why minimum sponsorship applies.